Welcome to segment three of the ASEA skincare line ingredient breakdown!
This week we will go over the Glow Serum, and I finally have been using all the products for a few days at this point!
It’s been totally new for me to actually use a skincare line every day, and I’m starting to enjoy the ritual and habit of it. I have been using it before bed, to do its magic overnight after removing the makeup (maybe) and dirt(definitely) from the day.
Powered By Redox Skincare
So let’s just do a quick recap on why these products are AMAZING and what Powered by Redox, means: ASEA’s Powered by Redox formulas leverage the same redox principles our proprietary cell signaling technology is built on. However, instead of creating new redox molecules we specifically select pre-existing ingredients that
support your skin’s natural redox homeostasis—leaving you with hydrated, nourished, ageless, better-than-ever skin.
For more information on Redox Molecules, check out my post Molecules, Redox Molecules, which will help if you aren’t familiar with the term or the powerhouse molecules within our bodies.
This is important because this is not just another set of products with who knows what, sold with advertising gimmicks by celebrities who don’t even use the product. These products have been designed with the most impactful, safe, and skin-affirming ingredients, so you can feel good about what you are putting on the largest organ of your body!
RENU Advanced® Glow Serum
Straight from the product description:
Luminous and radiant skin is all about finding balance, and our RENUAdvanced Glow Serum is here to help. By supporting your skin’s natural protective barriers, it’s able to adapt to challenges and everyday stressors without skipping a beat. Be ready to put your best face forward, no matter what comes your way.
• Supports skin protective barrier from daily environmental assaults
for radiant skin.
• Helps to even out visible photoaged skin tones.
• Helps to re-energize and calm your skin for a radiant appearance.
• Get immediate hydration and long-lasting results
Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Niacinamide, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria)
Flower Extract, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-2, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Inula Helenium Extract.
Aqua/Water/Eau is a pretty safe first ingredient.
Niacinamide is a form of vitimin B3. It helps build cells in the skin while also protecting them from environmental stresses, such as sunlight, pollution, and toxins. This ingredient is also shown to reduce dark spots, reduce pore size, and leave the skin glowing. Skincare at a cellular level!
Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract or “custard apple” is a green, cone-shaped tropical fruit with scaly skin and creamy, sweet flesh. This ingredient aids skin cells in fighting oxidative stress. It is a calming adaptogenic extract that helps establish healthy skin homeostasis, reducing inflammation, redness, and sensitivity.
Pentylene Glycol is a synthetic, low molecular weight solvent and skin-conditioning agent. A multi-functional, silky smooth feeling helper ingredient that is used as an emulsion stabilizer, solvent, and a broad spectrum antimicrobial.
This ingredient is lab-derived, however, it is actually naturally occurring in some plants, such as sugar beets and corn cobs.
Glycerin is a natural compound derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, but I will note that this product is free from any animal-based ingredients, so this glycerin is from a vegetable source. Glycerin is a humectant, a type of moisturizing agent that pulls water into the outer layer of your skin from deeper levels of your skin and the air.
It may also help provide protection against various skin irritants, in addition to helping speed up the wound-healing process. It replenishes and restores skin so that the natural moisture barrier is strengthened and revitalized.
Butylene Glycol is a small organic alcohol used as solvent and conditioning agent. This ingredient keeps the other ingredients in cosmetics spread out and in their desired state for use. While it’s a type of alcohol, it doesn’t typically irritate or dry out skin, and is actually used for those with dry skin.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is used to stabilize the formulation to ensure its shelf life and also the efficacy of the product. It is able to suspend ingredients in the formulation and also thicken the product. I really couldn’t find too much on what it was however it is approved as safe by SafeSkinProducts.com.
Sodium Hyaluronate is an ingredient that’s extracted from Hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a substance that naturally occurs in your body, including your skin and joint fluid. This ingredient has a low molecular weight, allowing it to pass into the lower layers of skin and improve the skin’s hydration at a deeper level.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is also called Super Hyaluronic Acid, is derived by synthesizing the natural moisturizing factor in Hyaluronic Acid. It has a fresh and not-sticky feeling that can provide wonderful moisturization, repair the skin barrier, improve skin elasticity, and leave skin smooth. This ingredient has been proven to improve skin elasticity after four weeks of use.
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract is extracted from chamomile! We love chamomile. It is used for it’s anti-inflammatory and skin soothing effects, this is powered by redox skincare!
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-2 helps to even out skin tones that are visibly photoaged. Not a whole lot to be found here.
Phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in cosmetic products and also as a stabilizer in perfumes and soaps. The amount of this ingredient within the product is well within the safe range, under 0.5%. This ingredient can be known to cause skin irritation and is not suggested to be ingested, however for these effects to occur, the dosage would have to be much higher.
This ingredient limits the potential growth of any bacteria in the product.
Propanediol is known as the do-gooder overachiever in the skincare world. This ingredient is a safe replacement for the toxic propylene glycol. Derived from corn sugar instead of petrochemicals, it works as a solvent, humectant, and emollient. This ingredient is great for those with sensitive skin, especially those with acne.
Caprylyl Glycol as described by New York City dermatologist Dr. Hadley King explains: “Caprylyl glycol is an alcohol derived from caprylic acid —a fatty acid found in the milk of some mammals, as well as palm and coconut oils.” It is a humectant, so it is designed to hydrate the skin, even as a type of alcohol, it is not the type that dries out your skin, really it does the opposite.
Hexylene Glycol is a solvent that produces smooth spreadability and pleasing skin care textures, also helping to thin out products that may be heavier in viscosity. It is commonly used with the preservative Phenoxyethanol, as it helps to increase the efficacy of the product so that both of less can be used.
Ethylhexylglycerin is a glyceryl ether used as a weak preservative and skin conditioning agent. Not a huge fan of this ingredient. I’m going to send an email.
Betaine is an extract from sugar beets via liquid chromatographic separation from sugar beet molasses, then refined and crystallized for use. Betaine is naturally occurring within the body as well, acting as a powerhouse for moisturization, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and that light breezy soothed feeling. It has antistatic properties, can act as a humectant, and controls viscosity.
Given that betaine naturally occurs in the body, it is a non-irritating, safe ingredient to help improve the condition of the skin!
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is used in amounts up to 1% to boost the effectiveness of other preservatives, allowing for the use of lower amounts than is typical without compromising effectiveness.
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Stearoxy Ether– is a viscosity-controlling agent. Pretty much all I can find there.
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract also known as snow mushroom, is a plant extract that is a rich source of polysaccharides and has shown an ability to help hydrate skin by binding moisture to its surface. A great natural anti-aging ingredient.
Legend has it, imperial Concubine Yang Kuei-fei – the most beautiful woman in Chinese history – used it for her facial care. (Shown on right)
Inula Helenium Extract is also known as elecampane or elfwort (looks like a dandelion, but isn’t), has been applied in herbal medicine against respiratory and digestive disorders, and for wound healing for hundreds of years. The potential of the botanical active is to protect skin against environmental pollutants including smoke contamination and, in turn, reduce TEWL, mitigating signs of aging—i.e., wrinkles and elasticity, and lightening skin tone. (Shown on left)
Product Conclusion
And here we have the statistics based on a four-week study!
Not too bad of numbers!
I am happy with this product. I enjoy the way it feels, and the way it makes my skin feel. I have only been using this product for a few days now.
I am not super impressed with the ingredients on this one, as I just think some of them are a little excessive, and I wish to know the amounts used or the reasoning behind it.
But I’m not a scientist or a dermatologist, and I trust in the company, and they are definitely doing good things and have incredible products. Don’t think for a moment otherwise.
Make sure to check out the previous posts, ASEA Foaming Cleanser, and ASEA Balancing Toner! Two weeks from today will be the final product review/ingredient breakdown!
Love and vibes,
